Palampur land scam: Fake death certificate used to claim disputed land

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The village Nambardar, Aalok Sharma, had already testified before the Revenue Officer stating that Rozna Saraf was never a resident of Banuri. According to him, she had no residence in the village and did not die there. Despite this testimony, the Revenue Officer still issued the order, based on which the Palampur Municipal Corporation issued the death certificate.

According to information gathered by The Tribune, there is no official record of Rozna Saraf’s death. Her registered address is in Mohal Amritsar, and she is listed as the daughter of TJ Glinsal. However, the forged death certificate from Palampur MC was used by individuals claiming to be her legal heirs to claim ownership of the disputed land.

Another serious irregularity has surfaced in the transfer of 101 kanals of land. The Revenue Officer Grade II failed to verify the authenticity of the individuals claiming to be Rozna Saraf’s legal heirs. Given the high market value of the disputed land, numerous people have stepped forward claiming succession. In a hasty order, the officer named six individuals as legal heirs and transferred the land to them. These individuals then sold the land, which remains in possession of 20 tenants.

Senior advocates Jagmel Katoch and Adarsh Sood, who represent the tenants in local courts, said the actual legal heirs of Rozna Saraf have not been clearly identified to date. They criticized the Revenue Officer for transferring the land without proper verification and for mutating the revenue records in the names of the six claimants.

Meanwhile, two more individuals have come forward today, claiming to be Rozna Saraf’s legal heirs. They have filed a complaint with the State Vigilance Bureau, demanding the registration of a criminal case against the Revenue Officer and others allegedly involved. The judicial process followed by the Revenue Officer is now under intense scrutiny, as it appears to be riddled with contradictions and procedural violations.